Sep 20

Sep 20 "Flood Apple Stores"

Demonstrations, Protest, Public Declarations

Titan-Security included an interesting listing on its Community Alerts webpage.

Friday, September 20, Time TBD: 401 N Michigan (Apple Store), Group may gather for their cause “Flood Apples Stores”

I wasn’t expecting a literal flood, but I wondered whether some group planned to ‘take over’ the store by “flooding” it with demonstrators—good luck trying to overrun the store with its ridiculously heavy revolving door, which I assume functions as an anti-theft measure. Neither searches of Facebook, nor Instagram turned up any posts explaining what this demonstration was all about.

While photographing a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Federal Plaza late yesterday afternoon, I asked two CPD officers whether they knew anything about the event. One said that it was a coordinated effort taking place in several cities, but he didn’t know anything else.

Heading to the gym today, I exited the bus across the street from the Michigan Avenue Apple store. Looking across the street, I saw four or five CPD SUVs parked outside the Apple store, people waiting in a rope line to gain entrance to the store, and six or seven demonstrators standing on the sidewalk. I quickly realized that this small group did not intend to “occupy” the Apple store.

According to a press release, the demonstrators are associated with The Shake-Off, an anti-imperialist public podcast. My assumption that this demonstration would somehow be linked to the war in Gaza proved wrong, although several demonstrators wore keffiyehs and two of the banners included depictions of the Palestinian flag.

The group sought to highlight unethical mining practices in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which in 2023 accounted for more than 73% of global cobalt production, according to mining.com. Cobalt is the key material in lithium-ion batteries, which power iPhones, iPads, iWatches, and competing devices, as well as electric cars, digital cameras, and other modern electronic conveniences.

The organizers chose today to demonstrate because today coincides with the release of the iPhone 16, the latest and greatest iteration since the first iPhone was released on June 29, 2007. I remember that first release because there were long lines outside Apple’s original Michigan Avenue store—the line wrapped around the block. Today, there were 50 people waiting in a line to gain entrance, presumably to pick up their pre-ordered iPhones.

The demonstrators were focused on both the people passing by on Michigan Avenue, as well as those waiting in line. Several demonstrators spoke, but I stayed for only 30 minutes—I returned shortly before 3:00 PM to catch a bus; the demonstration was just wrapping up.

Probably the most intelligent remark I heard came from a demonstrator who said, “We are here just trying to help you think,” a comment encapsulating the general tone exhibited by the demonstrators. They were not antagonistic toward those waiting to enter the store, nor were they strident or particularly loud. One speaker simply asked people to think twice before upgrading, hoping to break the cycle of annual upgrades that often offer new features of little utility to users who simply want a communication device, point and shoot camera, and connectivity to the Internet.

A pamphlet that the demonstrators were distributing listed suggestions on how to further “Divest from Apple,” including cancelling subscriptions to Apple Music, not using Apple Pay, and buying used devices on the secondary market.

Afterwards, I did some quick research, finding a 2023 article written by NPR’s Terry Gross detailing the abuses in the Congo of “so-called ‘artisanal’ miners’ — freelance workers who do extremely dangerous labor for the equivalent of just a few dollars a day.” These miners include women and children, according to Siddharth Kara, a fellow at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who had just published a book entitled, Cobalt Red.

Of course, unhealthy and brutal work conditions are nothing new. In recent years, there have been articles and books addressing the toxic waste dumps in Asia and Africa where First World electronic detritus is shipped for sorting by children, as well as articles addressing the diamond mining industry in Botswana. For an excellent photographic portrayal of the diamond supply chain, see the work of Dutch photographer Kadir van Lohuizen. His book on the mines appears to be out of print.

Clearly the demonstrators have highlighted a series of issues that should concern everyone. Given that they were not inflammatory or antagonistic, they may have succeeded in heightening awareness to the problems posed by the Congolese mines.

Afterwards, I thought about how the problem might be addressed. Solutions will prove difficult because the Chinese are battling to gain dominance over the mines. The New York Times reports that,

At least here in Congo, China is so far winning that contest, with both the Obama and Trump administrations having stood idly by as a company backed by the Chinese government bought two of the country’s largest cobalt deposits over the past five years.

Even if the United States government were to impose sanctions on the Congolese government or those in the supply chain, the Chinese most likely would continue to exploit the supply of cobalt. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. has learned that the enforcement of OFAC sanctions is extremely difficult. The good news, according to the Times is that Congolese officials are beginning to scrutinize the Chinese.

The United States might also use foreign aid as a carrot. Currently, the United States and the European Union are working on the development of a rail corridor in the region, with the United States committing $250 million to the project, according to an article in Mining and Business. This sort of investment could give the U.S. government leverage over the Congolese government and those in the supply chain. The U.S., for example, might exercise its influence to preclude mining companies that exploit child labor from using the rail line.

The demonstrators most likely picked Apple as today’s target because its products have become ubiquitous. Moreover, everyone knows about Apple’s use of batteries because the marketing campaign for new iPhones always highlights increased battery life. Yet, the handout does not state that Apple stopped sourcing from ‘artisanal’ mines in 2017, according to a CNN report. Perhaps of greater significance, Apple has announced that it will use 100% recycled cobalt batteries by 2025.

Of course, without meaning to criticize Apple, it is playing a shell game. If it drives the price of recycled cobalt up, other companies will simply increase their reliance on newly mined cobalt. The demonstrators’ suggestion that consumers buy used iPhones is another illusory shell game (again, with meaning to criticize). Most likely, the person who sold his or her old iPhone through eBay then purchased a new one (but at least that is one new iPhone rather than two).

Given the press release I was handed, the demonstrators would most likely dispute whether Apple has taken corrective action. The release excerpts a May 22 article from Reuters stating:

International lawyers representing the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo said on Wednesday they had new evidence gathered from whistleblowers, which deepened concerns that Apple, could be sourcing minerals from conflict areas in eastern Congo.

These critical minerals are coming from a supply chain that include resources smuggled from the DRC into neighboring Rwanda, where they are allegedly laundered and ‘Integrated into the global supply chain.’ Year after year, Apple has sold technology made with minerals from a region whose population is being devastated by grave human rights violations,” the lawyers wrote.

Ultimately, consumers (we) are (all) at fault, which explains why the demonstrators were out today. Everyone wants an iPhone or its equivalent. If there is demand, it will be met by Apple and the dozens of other phone manufacturers.

Later in the day, I asked the demonstrators whether they used smartphones. My question was not intended to embarrass or suggest hypocrisy. I knew the answer to the question before I asked it, but I wanted to see how they addressed their own use. The answer matter-of-factly acknowledged use.

Over the last decade, smart phones have become our handheld computers, allowing us to function in a world that assumes we have the web readily available to us. The demonstrators are no different than the rest of us.

I had hoped to listen to their podcast later today so I could hear them lay out their arguments in detail, but I was unable to find it on YouTube, Podbean, or what I believe is the Apple-branded podcast app. There was a podcast using the Shake-off moniker pertaining to Taylor Swift, and several published by psychologists.

As for the protest, I saw two issues that are worth noting. First, the demonstrators were focused on cell phone batteries and mining, but their signage and some of their clothing highlighted the war in Gaza. As regular readers know, I believe groups should focus on one issue when demonstrating. In this case, a person can be pro-Israeli and opposed to insidious mining practices. By exhibiting their pro-Palestinian stance, the demonstrators undercut their central message, possibly alienating potential supporters.

As noted, my point is not limited to this particular demonstration. I made the same observation when a speaker at an abortion-rights rally spoke about restrictions on gun ownership. Many people may be aligned on the two issues, but in some states, the abortion-rights advocates need those in the suburbs to join with them in protecting those rights, but some people in the suburbs oppose restrictions on gun ownership, but support abortion rights. Demonstrators are marketing ideas. They should take care not to step on their core message.

Second, I am always troubled when I see those behind the lead banner during a march looking at their screens rather than straight ahead. They should exhibit passion, sending the message to onlookers that the issue in question is an important one. Several people looking at screens deflates the passion, undercutting the message.

Today, as my cover image depicts, one woman was holding a banner while looking at her phone, which appears to be an iPhone (based on the lens configuration). Given that the entire point of the demonstration is to raise issues about iPhones, that imagery completely undercuts the message. I can imagine someone heading into the store saying to themselves, “Why should I cancel my order when a demonstrator is using an iPhone?”

At the next demonstration, the organizers should ask the demonstrators to refrain from looking at ther phones while demonstrating. If someone needs to make a call or check an email, step to the side.

[Click on an Image to Enlarge It. The Images Are Not Necessarily in Exact Chronological Order]